Preliminary inventory of mammals from Yurubí National Park, Yaracuy,

Venezuela with some comments on their natural history

Franger J. García1, 2, Mariana Delgado-Jaramillo1, 2, Marjorie Machado1 & Luis Aular2
1. Departamento de Biología, Facultad Experimental de Ciencias y Tecnología (FACYT), Universidad de Carabobo;
cormura@yahoo.com, marianadelgado13@yahoo.es, mmachado3@uc.edu.ve
2. Grupo de Exploraciones Científicas Minas de Aroa, Yaracuy (GECMA-Yaracuy); guacharocuy@hotmail.com

Received 22-ix-2010. Corrected 20-v-2011. Accepted 21-vi-2011.

Abstract: In Venezuela, mammals represent an important group of wildlife with high anthropogenic pressures
that threaten their permanence. Focused on the need to generate baseline information that allows us to contribute
to document and conserve the richness of local wildlife, we conducted a mammalogical inventory in Yurubí
National Park, located in Yaracuy State in Venezuela. We carried out fieldworks in three selected vegetation
types: an evergreen forest at 197m, a semi-deciduous forest ranging between 100-230m, and a cloud forest at
1 446m. We used Victor, Sherman, Havahart and pitfall traps for the capture of small non-volant mammals and
mist nets for bats. In addition, we carried out interviews with local residents and direct-indirect observations for
medium-large sized mammals. At least 79 species inhabit the area, representing 28% of the species recorded for
the North side of the country. Chiroptera (39 spp.), Carnivora (13 spp.) and Rodentia (9 spp.) were the orders
with the highest richness, as expected for the Neotropics. The evergreen forest had the greatest species richness
(n=68), with a sampling effort of 128 net-hours, 32 bucket-days, 16 hours of observations, and three persons
interviewed, followed by cloud forest (n=45) with 324 net-hours, 790 traps-night, 77 bucket-days, 10 hours of
observations, and one person interviewed. The lowest richness value was in the semi-deciduous forest (n=41),
with 591 traps-night, 15 net-hours, 10 hours of observations and three persons interviewed. Data and observa-
tions obtained in this inventory (e.g., endemism, species known as “surrogate species” threatened in Venezuela)
give an important role at the Yurubí National Park in the maintenance and conservation of local ecosystems and
wildlife, threatened by human pressures in the Cordillera de la Costa. Rev. Biol. Trop. 60 (1): 459-472. Epub
2012 March 01.

Key words: inventory, mammals, Sierra de Aroa, Venezuela, Yurubí National Park.

In Venezuela, mammals represent the sec-
ond richest group of terrestrial vertebrates,
after birds (Hilty et al. 2003, Ochoa & Aguilera
2003). Linares (1998) documented 327 species
included in 12 orders and 42 families. Later,
Ochoa & Aguilera (2003) reported 351 species
in 13 orders and 43 families and this number
has increased in recent years thanks to taxo-
nomic contributions and new descriptions (e.g.,
Anderson 2003, Lew & Pérez-Hernández 2004,
Sánchez et al. 2005, Lew et al. 2006, Weskler et
al. 2006, Molinari 2007, Gutiérrez & Molinari
2008). The current checklist based on Wilson
& Reeder (2005) and supported with additional
publications (e.g., Gardner 2008, Dávalos &
Corthals 2008, Gutiérrez & Molinari 2008,
Ochoa et al. 2008, Anderson & Gutiérrez 2009)
increases the number to 383 species into 14
orders and 47 families with 25 endemic spe-
cies in six orders: Didelphimorphia, Carnivora,
Lagomorpha, Soricomorpha, Chiroptera, Artio-
dactyla and Rodentia (Linares 1998, Ochoa &
Aguilera 2003, Wilson & Reeder 2005, Lew et
al. 2006, Molinari 2007, Gardner 2008, Gutiér-
rez & Molinari 2008, Anderson & Gutiérrez
2009, Helgen et al. 2009).
Currently, Venezuela has 43 National
Parks of which 23 have mammalogical records

Rev. Biol. Trop. (Int. J. Trop. Biol. ISSN-0034-7744) Vol. 60 (1): 459-472, March 2012 459
(Handley 1976, Valdez et al. 1984, Ochoa
1986, Gardner 1988, Guerrero et al. 1989,
Fernández-Badillo & Ulloa 1990, Ochoa &
Gorzula 1992, Ojasti et al. 1992, Ochoa et al.
1993, 1995, 2000, 2005, Bisbal 1995, 1998,
2008, Soriano et al. 1990, 1999, Linares &
Rivas 2003, MARN 2003, 2005, Rivas & Sal-
cedo 2005, Lew et al. 2009).
Regarding the Yurubí National Park, there
is no inventory linked with mammals, and the
only mammalogical survey close to the study
area was the expedition between 1965-1968 by
the Smithsonian Venezuelan Project (Handley
1976), in the locality called “Minas de Aroa” in
the Sierra de Aroa, where the Yurubí National
Park is located. Much of the surface of the
Sierra de Aroa is fragmented by farming, and
perhaps the only area that has not been affected
is the Yurubí National Park, due to its status of
protected area (Lentino & Esclasans 2005).
Taxonomic studies of other vertebrates in
localities of the Sierra de Aroa and in the Yurubí
National Park have resulted in descriptions of
new endemic species: a highland forest frog
(Dendropsophus yaracuyanus Mijares-Urrutia
Quebrada Goitía
Capochal
Caño Negro
Fila El Venado
El Silencio*
La Trampa de El Tigre
Fig. 1. Geographical location of Yurubí National Park, showing the sampled localities in this inventory with an asterisk
(*): “Mayorica” (10°26’ N - 68°40’ W) and “El Silencio” (10°25’ N - 68°48’ W). Voucher specimens of another localities
previous to this study are deposited in EBRG: Guaratarito (10°30’ N - 68°42’ W), Quebrada Goitía (10°30’ N - 68°46’ W),
Capochal (10°29’ N - 68°48’ W), Caño Negro (10°27’ N - 68°47’ W), Fila El Venado (10°27’ N - 68°46’ W), La Trampa de
El Tigre (10°24’ N - 68°47’ W).
460
& Rivero 2000); a caecilian (Caecilia flavo-
puntacta Roze & Solano 1963), and 10 fishes
(Rodríguez-Olarte et al. 2005). For Yurubí
vegetation, there is endemism reported in some
plant species in families Rubiaceae: Hoffma-
nia aroensis, H. stenocarpa and Piperaceae:
Piperomia croizatiana (Delascio 1977).
Because there is a lack of mammalogical
information in Yurubí National Park, added to
anthropogenic pressures that threaten the per-
manence of species that inhabit the mountain
regions in Cordillera de la Costa (Ochoa et
al. 1995, Rodríguez & Rojas 1998), here, we
present the preliminary results of an inventory
focused on the need to generate baseline infor-
mation as an effort to contribute with some
information and to stimulate the conservation
of local wildlife.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Study Area: The Yurubí National Park is
located in the Sierra de Aroa, Yaracuy State,
Venezuela (Fig. 1). It has a surface of 23 670ha
Guaratarito
Mayorica*
100 0 100 200 300 km
Rev. Biol. Trop. (Int. J. Trop. Biol. ISSN-0034-7744) Vol. 60 (1): 459-472, March 2012
(Lentino & Esclasans 2005) and an altitudinal
range between 100-1 940m. The climate is sea-
sonal and macrothermic, with an average annu-
al precipitation between 800-1 500mm and
a bimodal temporal distribution with a rainy
season in July-August and other in November-
December (Alvarado 2008). The annual aver-
age temperature is between 10-26.5ºC.
Data acquisition: The first step of this
survey was the collection of all information on
mammals from specimens deposited in national
institutions (museums and universities) and
literature review. The second step consisted of
three field expeditions, beginning on August
29- September 6 2008, for the locality called
“Mayorica” (10°26’ N - 68°40’ W; 100-230m),
and we then carried out two expeditions on
February 6-14 2009 and May 16-21 2009, in
the locality “El Silencio” (10°25’ N - 68°48’
W; 1 446m). The fieldwork consisted of seven
days for “Mayorica” and six days for “El Silen-
cio”, with nights with limited moonlight.
We selected three vegetation types in
Yurubí National Park: an evergreen forest
at 197m, located in “Mayorica”. The under-
story was open with the families Palmae
(e.g., Geonoma sp., Euterpe longiptiolata and
Chamaedorea sp.), Melastomataceae, Pipera-
ceae and Rubiaceae, being the most observed
in the lower stratum. In watercourses, we
noted Heliconiaceae (e.g., Heliconia psittaco-
rum and H. bihai), Acanthaceae, Poaceae (e.g.,
Olyra sp.), Arecaceae and Haemodoraceae
(e.g., Xiphidium caeruleum). Trees included
Ficus spp. (Moraceae), Gyranthera cariben-
sis (Malvaceae), Pachira aquatica (Bombaca-
ceae), Clusia sp. (Guttiferae), Lecythis ollari
(Lecythidaceae), Inga sp. (Leguminosae),
Ocotea sp. (Lauraceae) and Brownea grandi-
ceps (Fabaceae) among others. Epiphytism was
represented by Bromeliaceae (e.g., Guzmania),
Orchidaceae (e.g., Epidendrum and Eulophid-
ium) and Araceae (e.g., Philodendron).
We selected within this same locality a strip
of semi-deciduous forest ranging 100-213m, and
here, trees belonging to the following genera:
Bursera (Burseraceae), Hura (Euphorbiaceae),
Rev. Biol. Trop. (Int. J. Trop. Biol. ISSN-0034-7744) Vol. 60 (1): 459-472, March 2012
Ceiba (Bombacaceae), Cedrela (Meliaceae),
Ceroxilum (Arecaceae), Tabebuia (Bignonia-
ceae) and Spondias (Anacardiaceae) were the
best represented; in addition Leguminosae,
Araceae, Selagineceae, abundant lianas and
epiphytes in the lower stratum.
The last site chosen was a cloud forest at
1 446m in “El Silencio”. The following plant
genera were the most common in this local-
ity: Persea, Clusia, Guarea, Sapium, Lecythis,
Calatea, Ficus, Podocarpus, Brosimum, Gus-
tavia, Gyranthera, Oliganthes, Catoblastus,
Guzmania, Cecropia and Cyathea belonging to
the families Lauraceae, Guttiferae, Meliaceae,
Euphorbiaceae, Lecythidaceae, Marantaceae,
Moraceae, Podocarpaceae, Arecaceae, Mal-
vaceae, Asteraceae, Bromeliaceae, Urticaceae
and Cyatheaceae.
Capture of small non-volant mammals:
We set four types of traps following of Ochoa
et al. (2008) recommendations.
1) Victor traps, were placed on the ground
and heights ranging from 1-2m for the cap-
ture of taxa using the ground (terrestrial) and
the middle stratum (arboreal). 2) Sherman
live traps, were placed on the ground level
to capture terrestrial taxa. 3) Havahart live
traps were placed on the ground to capture
terrestrial taxa and 4) a pitfall-trap system to
capture of terrestrial and semi-arboreal taxa.
All traps, except the pitfall-trap system, were
baited daily with some of the following baits:
1) a mixture of oats, sardines, oil and vanilla
extract). 2) ripe plantain (Musa sp.) and 3) food
for birds (canary seed). These traps were placed
at approximately 20m intervals along existing
trails, and the pitfall-trap system was placed at
ground level and it was spaced 5m apart every
plastic buckets with a fence in a linear series.
Total traps (Victor, Sherman and Havahart),
used were 80 and the total sampling effort was
1 382 trap-nights and 109 bucket-days.
Capture of bats: The procedure followed
Ochoa et al. (2008). We set three mist nets of
9m and three mist nets of 12m in different for-
est strata (understory and mid-canopy). Mist
461
nets were activated from 18:00-22:00 hours
and in some occasions from 04:00-06:00 hours
in order to cover two major peaks of activity. In
addition to we carried out occasional searches
of shelters in the daytime (e.g., caves, crevices,
foliage, hollows in trees and logs, etc.). The
total sampling effort was 323 net-hours.
Medium-large sized mammals: To record
medium-large sized mammals (e.g., Carnivora,
Artiodactyla, Perissodactyla and Rodentia), we
used a field guide to interview local residents
together with our direct and indirect sightings
(e.g., tracks, vocalizations and scats). We inter-
viewed seven persons and we carried out 36
hours of observations.
Identifications followed Wilson & Reeder
(2005) and Gardner (2008) for most species,
Weksler et al. (2006) for Oryzomyini, Larsen
et al. (2007) for large-sized Artibeus, Lim et
al. (2008) for small-sized Artibeus and Voss
& Jansa (2009) for didelphid marsupials. We
followed guidelines approved by Gannon et
al. (2007), for animals captured in the field.
Voucher specimens were fixed in 10% for-
malin and preserved in 70% ethanol, and are
deposited at the Museo de la Estación Biológi-
ca de Rancho Grande (EBRG-Maracay) and
Museo de Zoología (MZUC), Departamento de
Biología, Facultad Experimental de Ciencias y
Tecnología FACYT, Universidad de Carabobo,
Valencia, Carabobo State, Venezuela.
RESULTS
At least 79 species, representing 10 orders
inhabit in the study area (Table 1). Of these,
73% (n=58) represent new records in Yurubí

TABLE 1
Mammals recorded in Yurubí National Park, Yaracuy State, Northern Venezuela

Vegetation types Threat

TAXA
SDF EF CF Categories
DIDELPHIMORPHIA
DIDELPHIDAE
DIDELPHINAE
Chironectes minimus1 T, O, I
Didelphis marsupialis1, 2, 3, 4 I O, I I
Marmosops fuscatus2 2C, 1MR
Marmosa demerarae3 1C
Monodelphis palliolata2 3C
CINGULATA
DASYPODIDAE
DASYPODINAE
Dasypus novemcinctus2 I O, I I
PILOSA
BRADYPODIDAE
Bradypus variegatus4 I O, I I
MYRMECOPHAGIDAE
Myrmecophaga tridactyla I I VU
Tamandua tetradactyla I O, I I
PRIMATES
CEBIDAE
CEBINAE
Cebus olivaceus5 I O, I I

462 Rev. Biol. Trop. (Int. J. Trop. Biol. ISSN-0034-7744) Vol. 60 (1): 459-472, March 2012
 TABLE 1 (Continued)
Mammals recorded in Yurubí National Park, Yaracuy State, Northern Venezuela

Vegetation types Threat

TAXA
SDF EF CF Categories
ATELIDAE
ALOUATTINAE
Alouatta seniculus5 O, V, I BP, O, V, I V, I, BP
LAGOMORPHA
LEPORIDAE
Sylvilagus brasiliensis I I I
CHIROPTERA
EMBALLONURIDAE
EMBALLONURINAE
Peropteryx kappleri7 3MR
Saccopteryx bilineata4 1MR
Saccopteryx leptura4 1R
PHYLLOSTOMIDAE
DESMODONTINAE
Desmodus rotundus8 O, I
Diphylla ecaudata4 1C DD
GLOSSOPHAGINAE
Anoura cultratra4 1MR
Glossophaga soricina 4 2C 4C, 3MR 1MR
PHYLLOSTOMINAE
Chrotopterus auritus4 1C
Lonchorhina aurita4, 8 4C, 1R, O, 2MR
Lophostoma silvicolum4 1C
Micronycteris hirsuta6 1MR
Micronycteris megalotis4 1C 2MR
Micronycteris microtis4 2C
Micronycteris minuta4 1C
Mimon crenulatum4 1C
Phylloderma stenops4 1C
Phyllostomus discolor4 1C 3MR
Phyllostomus hastatus4 1C 1MR
Tonatia saurophila4 1C 1C
Trachops cirrhosus1, 4 1C
CAROLLIINAE
Carollia brevicauda4 2C, 1R, 2MR 2C, 2MR, 2R
Carollia perspicillata4, 8 8R 6C, 7MR, 61R
STENODERMATINAE
Artibeus bogotensis4 6C, 1MR
Artibeus lituratus4 1C 2C, 5R 8C, 2R
Artibeus planirostris4 2C, 9R 4C, 18R 7C, 6R
Chiroderma villosum4 1C
Platyrrhinus helleri4 1C 3C
Platyrrhinus umbratus4 8MR DD

Rev. Biol. Trop. (Int. J. Trop. Biol. ISSN-0034-7744) Vol. 60 (1): 459-472, March 2012 463
 TABLE 1 (Continued)
Mammals recorded in Yurubí National Park, Yaracuy State, Northern Venezuela

Vegetation types Threat

TAXA
SDF EF CF Categories
Platyrrhinus vittatus4 1C
Uroderma bilobatum4 5C, 1MR, 2R
Vampyressa thyone4 2C
Sturnira erythromos4 1MR
Sturnira lilium4 3C, 8R 5R, 6MR 2C, 1MR
Sturnira oporaphilum4 1C, 2MR 13C, 11R
MORMOOPIDAE
Pteronotus parnellii4 2MR 5C, 2R
Pteronotus personatus1,4 1C
VESPERTILIONIDAE
VESPERTILIONINAE
Eptesicus furinalis4 1C 1MR
Rhogeessa io4 1C 2C
MYOTINAE
Myotis keaysi4, 8 5C 2MR
CARNIVORA
FELIDAE
FELINAE
Leopardus pardalis I I I VU
Leopardus sp.(wiedii or tigrinus) I I I VU
Puma concolor I I I NT
Puma yagouaroundi2 I O, I I
PANTHERINAE
Panthera onca I T, I T, I VU
CANIDAE
Cerdocyon thous I I I
Speothos venaticus2 O VU
MUSTELIDAE
MUSTELINAE
Eira barbara2 I O I
Mustela frenata I
MEPHITIDAE
Conepatus semistriatus I I I
PROCYONIDAE
Nasua nasua I I
Procyon cancrivorus1,2 I I, FR, O, I I
Potos flavus5 I O, V, I V, I
PERISSODACTYLA
TAPIRIDAE
Tapirus terrestris1, 2 T, S, I T, S, I VU
ARTIODACTYLA
TAYASSUIDAE
Pecari tajacu I 2H, I I

464 Rev. Biol. Trop. (Int. J. Trop. Biol. ISSN-0034-7744) Vol. 60 (1): 459-472, March 2012
 TABLE 1 (Continued)
Mammals recorded in Yurubí National Park, Yaracuy State, Northern Venezuela

Vegetation types Threat

TAXA
SDF EF CF Categories
Tayassu pecari I I I
CERVIDAE
Mazama americana I I 1C, I DD
Odocoileus cariacou I
RODENTIA
SCIURIDAE
SCIURINAE
Sciurus granatensis 4 O, I O, I I
HETEROMYIDAE
HETEROMYINAE
Heteromys anomalus2 5C O
Heteromys catopterius2 4C
CRICETIDAE
SIGMODONTINAE
Nephelomys caracolus2 2C
Transandinomys talamancae2 1C 1C 10C
ERETHIZONTIDAE
Coendou prehensilis I I I
DASYPROCTIDAE
Dasyprocta leporina I I I
CUNICULIDAE
Cuniculus paca2 I T, I BP, I
ECHIMYIDAE
EUMYSOPINAE
Proechimys guairae2 I 1C,O, I
TOTAL 41 68 45

Vegetation types in sampled days of this work are: SDF: semi-deciduous forest, EF: evergreen forest and CF: cloud forest.
Abbreviations of methods for the recording are: I: Interviews with local residents, O: Observations by authors, C: Collected
in this inventory, MR: Museum records, BP: Bone parts found, T: Tracks, FR: Food remains, S: Scats, V: vocalizations,
H: Hunting and R: Released. Numbers indicate stratum of collection or observations: 1=Associated with watercourses,
2=Ground, 3=Liana, 4=Understory, 5=Canopy, 6=Hole in tree, 7=Crevices and 8=Caves. Threat categories in Venezuela are
based in Rodríguez & Rojas-Suárez (2008): Vu=Vulnerable, NT=Near threatened, DD=Data deficient.

National Park. Chiroptera (39 spp.), Carnivora Species accumulation curves for taxa
(13 spp.) and Rodentia (9 spp.) were the orders inventoried with traps (Didelphimorphia:
with the highest taxonomic richness. Among family Didelphidae and Rodentia: families
the vegetation types sampled (Table 1), the Sciuridae, Heteromyidae, Cricetidae and Echi-
evergreen forest (n=67), had the highest rich- myidae) and mist nets (Chiroptera) at different
ness, followed by the cloud forest (n=45), and locations did not reach saturation (Fig. 2).
finally by the semi-deciduous forest (n=41). For Chiroptera, results indicated a
Sampling efforts in every inventoried locality high richness concentrated in Phyllostomi-
are shown in Table 2. dae (74.36%), Emballonuridae (7.69%) and

Rev. Biol. Trop. (Int. J. Trop. Biol. ISSN-0034-7744) Vol. 60 (1): 459-472, March 2012 465
 TABLE 2
Sampling efforts in evaluated localities of Yurubí National Park, Yaracuy State, Northern Venezuela

Sampled Localities and effort

Methods Mayorica El Silencio
Semi-deciduous forest Evergreen forest Cloud forest
Traps 591 trap-nights — 790 trap-nights
Mist nets 15 net-hours 128 net-hours 180 net-hours
Pitfall system — 32 bucket-days 77 bucket-days
Observations 10 hours 16 hours 10 hours
Interviews 3 persons 3 persons 1 person

30
A 2.5
25
B
2.0
20
N.º of spp.

15 N.º of spp. 1.5

1.0
10

5 0.5

0 0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 0 100 200 300 400 500 600

Sampling effort (net - hours) Sampling effort (trap - nights)

9 10
C D
8 9
7 8
7
6
N.º of spp.

N.º of spp.

6
5
5
4
4
3 3
2 2
1 1
0 0
0 50 100 150 200 250 0 200 400 600 800 1000

Sampling effort (net - hours) Sampling effort (trap - nights)

Fig. 2. Species accumulation curves for small mammals (marsupials, rodents and bats) inventoried in Yurubí National Park.
(Above left) bats inventoried in Mayorica, (Above right) marsupials and rodents inventoried in Mayorica, (Bottom left) bats
inventoried in El Silencio, (Bottom right) marsupials and rodents inventoried in El Silencio.

Mormoopidae (5.13%) (Table 1). Noteworthy documented in other localities of the Sierra de
records of foliage gleaning bats (e.g., Micro- Aroa and Cordillera de la Costa.
nycteris hirsuta, M. megalotis, M. microtis, Rodents captured (Transandinomys tala-
M. minuta, Lonchorhina aurita, Mimon crenu- mancae, Heteromys anomalus, H. catopterius,
latum, Tonatia saurophila and Lophostoma Nephelomys caracolus and Proechimys guai-
silvicolum) were obtained in this study (Table rae) represented important records for the
1). There were no representatives of Molos- mammalian fauna from Yurubí National Park.
sidae (free-tailed bats), Natalidae (funnel-eared Of these, the latter three species were endem-
bats) and Thyropteridae (disk-winged bats), ics (Heteromys catopterius endemic in the

466 Rev. Biol. Trop. (Int. J. Trop. Biol. ISSN-0034-7744) Vol. 60 (1): 459-472, March 2012
Cordillera de la Costa, Nephelomys caracolus
endemic for the Cordillera de la Costa and Sier-
ra de San Luis and Proechimys guairae endem-
ics for five bioregions in Northern Venezuela).
Marsupials documented were Didelphis
marsupialis, Marmosa demererae, Marmosops
fuscatus, Chironectes minimus and Monodel-
phis palliolata (Table 1). The first three taxa
with semi-arboreal habits; Chironectes, a ter-
restrial species associated with watercourses
and Monodelphis, fully terrestrial. All these
were captured and observed in primary habitats
in Yurubí National Park.
We recorded 10 species assigned in some
threat category for the country (Table 1).
This number includes six species “Vulner-
able”, one “Near threatened” and three with
“Data deficient”. It is interesting to men-
tion those mammals, such as monkeys (e.g.,
Alouatta seniculus and Cebus olivaceus), carni-
vores (e.g., Conepatus semistriatus, Cerdocyon
thous, Potos flavus and Procyon cancrivorus)
and the tapir (Tapirus terrestris), were appar-
ently common, according to the interviews and
occasional records in the study area. Another
situation occurs for the paca (Cuniculus paca),
peccaries (Tayassu pecari and Pecari tajacu),
agouti (Dasyprocta leporina), deer (Mazama
americana and Odocoileus cariacou), cats
(Panthera onca, Puma concolor) and rabbits
(Sylvilagus brasiliensis), which are the mainly
hunted mammals, according to local residents.
From the total of mammals listed, 15
taxa have their restricted distributions in
Northern Venezuela: Marmosops fuscatus,
Monodelphis palliolata, Diphylla ecaudata,
Anoura cultrata, Lonchorhina aurita, Sturnira
erythromos, S. oporaphilum, Myotis keaysi,
Conepatus semistriatus, Sciurus granatensis,
Heteromys anomalus, H. catopterius Neph-
elomys caracolus, Transandinomys talamancae
and Proechimys guairae.
DISCUSSION
Records obtained here provide new data for
the Sierra de Aroa (Handley 1976) and update
the list of mammals from Yurubí National Park.
Rev. Biol. Trop. (Int. J. Trop. Biol. ISSN-0034-7744) Vol. 60 (1): 459-472, March 2012
The documentation of these species represents
28% of 278 reported mammals in Northern
Venezuela (Wilson & Reeder 2005).
With respect to medium-large sized mam-
mals of hunting interest such as peccaries (Pec-
ari tajacu and Tayassu pecari), paca (Cuniculus
paca), agouti (Dasyprocta leporina) and deer
(Mazama americana and Odocoileus cariacou)
among others, their use as food can be consid-
ered as occasional, but it can be transformed if
the daily use by local residents results success-
ful in their hunting activities. They hunt very
often, but this activity does not represent their
basic sustenance. Apparently, only Mazama
americana, a large-sized mammal evaluated in
“Data deficient” for Venezuela (Rodríguez &
Rojas 2008), was used in Yurubí National Park
as food by local residents; the rest of medium-
large sized mammals recorded in this study,
and threatened in other localities of the country
(Ochoa et al. 1995, Ochoa 2000), were appar-
ently not hunted here.
Of carnivores defined in Venezuela within
some threat category (Rodríguez & Rojas
2008), Puma concolor (Near threatened), Pan-
thera onca, Leopardus pardalis and Leopar-
dus sp. (Vulnerable) would be species mostly
affected in the study area, because to the fear
of local residents with these cats. It is important
to mention the definition of “surrogate species”
for some taxa recorded in Yurubí National Park:
Panthera onca is defined as “umbrella species”
and Puma concolor as “flagship species”.
These species are used in ecosystem conserva-
tion programs in the Neotropics (Isasi 2011);
however, in an occasional encounter with these
cats in the study area, they can be hunted with-
out any importance of their conservation status.
Another taxon considered “flagship species”
in Yurubí National Park was the tapir (Tapirus
terrestris); this large-sized mammal apparently
was not hunted in the study area according to
interviews with local residents.
According to surveys, the following taxa
were considered common in the forest and
they were not used for any purpose: Didel-
phis marsupialis, Tamandua tetradactyla,
Alouatta seniculus, Cebus olivaceus, Procyon
467
cancrivorus, Conepatus semistriatus and
Potos flavus.
Small mammals showed a high number of
species and families for bats (Phyllostomidae,
Emballonuridae and Mormoopidae), marsupi-
als (Didelphidae) and rodents (Sciuridae, Het-
eromyidae, Cricetidae and Echimyidae), very
close to values found in other localities of the
Northern side of the country (Handley 1976,
Ochoa et al. 1995).
There are few records for Transandinomys
talamancae in the Sierra de Aroa (which Hand-
ley 1976, assigned to the Oryzomys “capito”
complex), and this rodent together with Sciurus
granatensis, Heteromys anomalus, H. catop-
terius, Nephelomys caracolus and Proechimys
guairae were the only representatives of fami-
lies Sciuridae, Heteromyidae, Cricetidae and
Echimyidae in the evaluated vegetation types.
Some researchers regarded Heteromys anoma-
lus, as one of the most common terrestrial
rodent of forests in Northern Venezuela from
sea level to over 2 000m (Handley 1976, Val-
dez et al. 1984), but a recent taxonomic study
(Anderson & Gutiérrez 2009), has confirmed
a new species (Heteromys catopterius), from
populations previously ascribed to the anoma-
lus complex.
This new species was found between
1 500-1  940m (Anderson & Gutiérrez 2009).
This record in Sierra de Aroa, represents the
first one for this rodent, and a substantial range
extension to the West occurring from the West
of the Depresión de Yaracuy, it is likely dis-
junctive from known records to the East.
It is noteworthy to mention the importance
of Proechimys guairae, Heteromys catopterius
and Nephelomys caracolus as endemic species
to Northern Venezuela (Musser & Carleton
2005, Anderson & Gutiérrez 2009). In the pres-
ent, these rodents have not been evaluated in
threat categories defined in the country (Rodrí-
guez & Rojas 2008).
Phyllostomid bats such as Carollia perspi-
cillata, Artibeus planirostris and Sturnira lilium
were the most common and with higher capture
frequencies, in agreement with other records in
primary forests in Venezuela (Handley 1976,
468 Rev. Biol. Trop. (Int. J. Trop. Biol. ISSN-0034-7744) Vol. 60 (1): 459-472, March 2012
Ochoa et al. 1995, Ochoa 2000). They com-
monly represent the dominant fraction in the
understory of Neotropical forests (Ochoa et
al. 1995, 2005), partly because of their very
general food requirements (e.g., these bats
consume fruits of understory and canopy plants
like Piper spp., Ficus spp., Cecropia spp. and
Solanum spp., Ochoa 2000); furthermore, there
is no overlap in items consumed (Carollia is
specialized in Piper, Artibeus in Ficus and
Cecropia and Sturnira in Solanum, Ochoa
2000, Thies & Kalko 2004); there is no over-
lap in flight patterns during the search of food
(flights in understory for Carollia spp. and
Sturnira spp., and understory and canopy for
Artibeus spp., Soriano 2000); echolocation is
less developed, making them easier to catch
with mist nets, and another argument is related
with capabilities to inhabit highly disturbed
environments, as well as those in a pristine
condition (Ochoa 2000).
Particularly in the evergreen forest, which
had a primary condition, we observed forest
Piper species in the understory, consumed
mainly by Carollia spp. (Thies & Kalko 2004),
as well as the typical species of Ficus spp.,
which provide fruits throughout the year. Some
bats captured in this inventory were considered
strict frugivores (e.g., Artibeus spp., Carollia
spp., and Sturnira spp.), using these resources
as items of their diet (Kalko et al. 1996, Thies
& Kalko 2004).
An interesting record is the presence in
the study area of 13 of the 20 species in the
Cordillera de la Costa (Linares 1998) of bats
belonging to the subfamily Phyllostominae.
Bats captured in Yurubí National Park of this
subfamily are considered rare and have low
relative abundances (Ochoa 2000); their feed-
ing strategies include insectivorous (e.g., Lon-
chorhina aurita, Lophostoma silvicolum and
Mimon crenulatum), fruits consumers as an
additional component to their diet of insects
(e.g., Micronycteris spp., and Tonatia sau-
rophila), pollen and nectar consumers (e.g.,
Phyllostomus discolor and P. hastatus) and
small vertebrate consumers (e.g., Chrotopterus
auritus and Trachops cirrhosus).
 In addition to their ecological preferences,
which make their capture difficult (because
these bats habit in primary forests and use a
variety of habitats with different availability
of food and shelter resources), they seem to
be sensitive elements not tolerant to high
disturbances in forests (Fenton et al. 1992,
Ochoa 2000).
Another support of the primary condition
of the vegetation inventoried was the absence
of individuals of the common vampire (Desmo-
dus rotundus) in sampled days. This vampire
consumes only blood, with preference for the
cattle, and often is considered a “damaging
species” in localities with great disturbances
(Fernández-Badillo & Ulloa 1990). Although
we did not captured Desmodus rotundus in
the study area, local residents recognize it
because sometimes their domestic animals suf-
fer bite injuries.
Similarly, the capture of another vampire,
Diphylla ecaudata, collected in the evergreen
forest at 197m, indicates the primary con-
dition of environments. This species unlike
Desmodus rotundus, has been recorded mostly
at elevations above 800m, in pristine forests
in Venezuela (Handley 1976) and specializes
in the consumption of vertebrate blood, with
preferences for the avian one (Greenhall et al.
1984) from species that live in forested envi-
ronments, making it a rare species to collect in
disturbed areas.
The mammals of Yurubí National Park are
an important component of the biodiversity
of forests in the Cordillera de la Costa. Data
and observations obtained in this inventory
(e.g., endemism, mammals known as “surro-
gate species” threatened in Venezuela) give an
important role at the Yurubí National Park, for
the maintenance and conservation of ecosys-
tems and local wildlife, threatened by human
pressures of present times.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Authors wish to thank the staff of the Museo
de la Estación Biológica de Rancho (Francisco
Bisbal and Javier Sánchez), for allowing us to
Rev. Biol. Trop. (Int. J. Trop. Biol. ISSN-0034-7744) Vol. 60 (1): 459-472, March 2012
review the material deposited at the museum
and supported us in fieldworks (equipment
loans); Hylda Siliet, Edward Camargo, Ivan
Díaz, and Vicente Colmenares for all logistical
support of lodging at both locations; the Depar-
tamento de Biología, Universidad de Carabobo,
especially Héctor Silva, Antonio Pérez, Guill-
ermo Flórez, Jorge Giménez †, Karen López,
and Yoiber Mujica for their fieldwork supports,
and Carlos Varela for his help in some identifi-
cations of botanical taxa, Robert Anderson for
his suggestions and the Instituto Nacional de
Parques INPARQUES-Yaracuy.
Resumen
En Venezuela, los mamíferos representan un impor-
tante grupo de la fauna con altas presiones antropogénicas
que amenazan su permanencia. Enfocados en la necesidad
de generar información de línea base que nos permita con-
tribuir con la documentación y conservación de la riqueza
de la fauna local, realizamos un inventario de mamíferos
en el Parque Nacional Yurubí, localizado en el estado
Yaracuy, Venezuela. Llevamos a cabo trabajos de campo
en tres tipos de vegetación seleccionados: un bosque siem-
preverde a 197m., un bosque semideciduo entre 100-230m
y un bosque nublado a 1 446m. Utilizamos trampas Victor,
Sherman, Havahart y un sistema de trampa de caída para la
captura de pequeños mamíferos no voladores y mallas de
neblina para murciélagos. Adicionalmente, entrevistamos
a los pobladores locales para el registro de mamíferos de
porte mediano a grande junto con observaciones ocasio-
nales directas e indirectas. Al menos 79 especies están
presentes en el área de estudio, representando el 28% de
la fauna de mamíferos registrada para el norte del país.
Chiroptera (39 spp.), Carnivora (13 spp.) y Rodentia (9
spp.) fueron los órdenes con las mayores riquezas taxo-
nómicas, coincidiendo con los resultados esperados en
el Neotrópico. El bosque siempreverde obtuvo la mayor
riqueza de especies (n=68), con un esfuerzo de muestreo
de 128 horas-malla, 32 baldes-día,16 horas de observacio-
nes y tres personas entrevistadas, seguida por el bosque
nublado (n=45) con 324 horas-malla, 790 trampas-noche,
77 baldes-día, 10 horas de observaciones y una persona
entrevistada. El valor más bajo de la riqueza fue en el
bosque semideciduo (n=41), con 591 trampas-noche, 15
horas-malla, 10 horas de observaciones y tres personas
entrevistadas. Los datos y observaciones obtenidos aquí
(e.g., endemismo, especies conocidas como “especies
sucedáneas” amenazadas en Venezuela), le confieren al
Parque Nacional Yurubí un papel importante en la conser-
vación y mantenimiento de los ecosistemas y fauna local,
actualmente amenazados por presiones humanas locales
en la Cordillera de la Costa.
469
Palabras claves: inventarios, mamíferos, Parque Nacional
Yurubí, Sierra de Aroa, Venezuela.
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